Image-receiving photographic element combined with a processing container



Sept. 30, 1952 E. H. LAND 2,612,449

IMAGE-RECEIVING PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENT COMBINED WITH A PROCESSING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 2, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 20 INVE OR I4 I v V BY W p 5 I952 E. H. LAND 2,612,449

IMAGE-RECEIVING PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENT COMBINED WITH A PROCESSING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 2, 1950 2 SHEETSSFEET 2 INV TOR ma QML Ma-dv/ v One object of the present "vide a novel photographic unit, having a layer of Patented Sept. 30, 1952 IMAGE-RECEIVING PHOTOGRAPHIC ELE- MENT COMBINED WITH A PROCESSING CONTAINER ,Edwin H. Land, Cambridge, 'Mass., assignor to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a cor- I poration of Delaware Application February 2, 1950, Serial No. 141,905

' 17 Claims. (01. 95-8) This invention relates to photography and more particularly to novel composite photographiefilms and/or image-carrying layers having incorporated therewith a liquid-carrying container. I I

.This applicationis a continuation-.in-part of .my copending application Serial No. 709,054, filed November 9, .1946, for fLight-SensitivePhotographic Element. Combined with Processing Contamer,v now. abandoned.

invention is to promaterial adapted to receive a photographic image and, aliquid-carrying container attachedto said layer-and. adapted to predeterminedly release its contained liquid to participate in animageforming reaction, wherein means are associated with said layer toprevent said container from beingprematurelyruptured.

e A further object of the presentinvention is to providev a novel photographic unit as described above wherein the layer of material comprises a photosensitive layer.

. A further object of the present invention is to providea novel photographic unit as described above wherein the layer of material comprises a nonphotosensitive image-carrying layer.

3 Afurther object .of the invention is to provide a novel photographic unit having a photosensitive layer and an image-carrying layer between which .is interposed a liquid-carrying container adapted I "to the following detailed descriptions taken to pi'edeterminedly release the contents thereof 1 and means to prevent said container from prematurely releasing said contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a, novel photographic unit having a photosensitive layer and an image-carrying layer between .which isinterposed a liquid-carrying container capable of releasing the contents thereof on ap- .,plication of. mechanical stress thereto and means to prevent said container from being prematurely ruptured but which. will not. interfere with the predetermined release'of said contents to spread the contained liquid between said layers toparticipate in an image-forming reaction.

y Other objects of the invention will in partbe' obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. .,,.The. invention accordingly comprises the product possessing-the features, properties and relation of components which are exemplified'in For. a fuller understandingof the nature and the invention, reference should be had connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a photographic unit embodying one form of the invention; f

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of astack'fof photo graphic units disclosed in Fig. l jandtakenalong line 22 ofFig.1; I r

Fig. 3 is a perspective .view of aphotographic unit embodying a second formofjtheinvention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view. of a stac k or photographic units disclosed inFig. 3 and talgerr'along line44ofFig.3; x

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview for use with roll film; and v Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing'the modification 01mg. 5 appl ed to rollfilrii; 3

The present invention relates novel photographic product in. t sheetlike assemblage comprising as r alayer of material and means'releasablycont ning aliquid, said liquid-containing means rig preferably so constru td that the contents thereof can be spread over apredetermined area of said layer. Both saidlayer'andsaid liguidare adapted to participate in an image-i-formingllreaction whereby'a desired visible image isjob-q tained in said assemblage, saidlayercoopeifatmg with said liquidat least to the extent of s'preade ing the same uniformly over the image area ,In its preferredform the means for carrying and releasing theliquid composition comprises an; elongated container of podlikeconstruction containing the liquid composition and'morinterl on said layer adjacent one "edge ofthear'eaover which itis desired to spread said liquid composition and adapted on application of a mechanical stress thereto, such as a cpmpressive'force,

to release and to spread its contentspv'er said area. g This spreading is preferably accomplished while said layer is in substantiallyface toface contact with another layer ofmaterial. In one form of the present invention. the composite structure may comprise both of said layers and the liquid-carrying means, and the liquid-carrying means may be attached to either of s" d layers. One of said layers may be a' phog s .tive layer and the liquid in the liquid carrrn'lg means is adapted towat least develop ala t the following detaileddisclosure, and the scope ,of the application of which will be indicated in the claims. i

stacked in superimposed relation. and; s. pressure parts t ereof up to a predetermined pressure in excess of that normally necessary to release the liquid from the container may be applied to said superimposed layers, tending to press the same together without actually transmitting sufiicient pressure to said liquid-carrying means to 'eifectthe release of the liquid therefrom.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a novel composite photographic film unit of the type comprising a base layer I01 carrying on one surface thereof a photosensitive layer I2. Another layer l 4 is also provided which, in a preferred form of the invention, is an imagecarrying layer. The photosensitive layer assembly, i. e., the base layer In and the photosensitive layer I 2, is connected to the image-carryinglayer I 4 by means of a hinge I6. Between the photosensitive layerr I2 and the image-carrying layer. I 4 there is provided a liquid-carrying container 18 capable ofpreleasing the contents thereof. In the drawings thealiquidi-carrying container I8. is

shown as attached to the image-carrying layer I 4 but; itmaybe attached to. the photosensitive layer. C'ontainer I3 is. so constructed that. upon application of. a. compressive force thereto the ,IiqIiidLcontent thereof is released between layers "and I4 and the liquid content thereof is preferably of-such. character as .to develop a latent imageformed -in-layer; I2 andto provide layer I4 with-a reversed image ofsaid latent image.

. Thebase layer- It! is preferably made of a suitable material" adapted" to hold a photosensitive emulsion. on its, surface. It can be paper or a cellulosic film base suchas, cellulose. acetate, celtare-of. il'vert halides .or. of amixedsil'ver halide.

; flihegliquid composition in the container I 8 prefer- Qablycomprisesa developer such as hydroquinone,

film-forming substance such as sodium vcarboxyinethyl cellulose. anda. substance adapted to form? from a latent photosensitive image, positive image-forming components. This latte'rwsub- 1 stance,preferab'lyfforms soluble complexes with 1 thfi.

'formmof'itheinvention. is sodium thiosulfate. There'may also be included in this liquid composit ionpther substances, such as a preservative -and an.alkali,, andlwater tocarry all of the above- J amedgsubstances.insolution. The containerl8 is .prcferably formed .of an oxygen and watervapor. impervious. material such,. for example, as a asheet -ofwaxeimpregnated metal-coated paper,

'exposdls'ilver halide and in a preferred on wax-L-coatedl'metal foil, or a metal foil coated l Zwitha resin, such as. polyvinyl b-utyral, which is inert to alk'alies; p Inasmuch as .it is advantageous to load several .lofp'the composite photographic films in the form [of afilm pack into a camera at one time, means Iare provided .to protect the container I8 and preventits being prematurely ruptured. In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 these protecting'means take the. form of folds or embo'ssed portions 2nextending along the marginal iporti'onsof theimage-carryinglayer I4 adjacent "the ends of container IBj and of sufiicient' height so that, their topsare substantiallydevel with or 'sl ightlyhigherthan the topof the container I8.

- when aplurality of the composite photographic films arefstacked, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the top's of" the folds or embossed portions 20 "bear" against the surface of the photosensitive 4 layer and prevent the transmission of crushing forces which would prematurely rupture the container la.

The image-carrying layer I4 is preferably made of relatively stiff material so that .the folds or embossed portions 20 willkhave sufilcient resistance to normal"crushingforces; This imagecarrying layer can be formed of a relatively thick and stiff sheet of baryta paper.

.Z..'I'he:-m'eansl' employed to apply a compressive force to the individual assemblages to release the liquidcomposition carried by container l8 and spread the contained liquid between the photosensitivelayeriIYZ -arid the image-carrying layer M'willEpreferablybe a wringer, the rolls of which will preferably be of a width to pass between the folds or embossed portions 20. However, it will appreciated that the image-carrying layer I4 may be made of material having sufficient strength to resist normal crushing whenthe composite films are in stacked relation ,but' which is not sufficiently strong resist" crushing when one unit is "passed? through the aforementioned wringer'to process the film'so that the"rolls;'of the Wringer can span the whole film unit. 1

Turning now' to- Eigs: 3 and 4 there is dis closed a composite photographic film which is similar to that disclosed inFigs; 1 and, 2except except for the nieans to'rjesist prematurei release of the liquid composition'carrie'dbycontainer f8. In the modification of the invention disclosed in Figs. 3 and ifaplura'lity'of' dome-shaped protub'erances- 22 are formedin' the marginal portions of" the image carrying' layerv adjacent to the ends of container l8." The heightoff' the dome-shaped proturberances 22 'isisuch that-"their I lanewith" orslightl'y ab'ove-the-top-ofcontainer I8. r f

Turning now to Fig. 5, there is disclosed a third means for -preventing premature' release of theliquid carried by the container and which is particularly adapted for use withf; composite photographic films which are wound on spools to-take the form of roll film, butwhich may be employed infiat composite films of the type disclosed inf Figs. 1' through 4; if desired. The means to 'prevent crushing 'of theliqu-id carrying container whichis disclosed in'Fig '5 ispreferably made of'a flexible material as, forexample, rubjber, cardboard; or a flexibleplastic;

The crusli-resistant"element 2'4 disclosed in Fig; 5' consists of an elongated body portion of substantially the same "height-= as container" l8 and having formed therein by molding; stamping,

or cutting, a-plurality' of transverse 'grooves' or notches 26 which extend down through a; substantial proportion of the body portion. The grooves ornotches' 26 function to permit the element tobend readily to conform to the curvature of a roll offilm and to return to a flatposition when the composite-film is unrolled to pass through a camera for exposureand'processing;

Fig. 6 illustrat'esa composite photographic roll film having'the crush-resisting elements of Fig.

5 incorporated therein. Ifhe composite photographicroll film comprises an elongated imagecarryin'g layer 28* of sufhcient length to receive fa pluralityof positive'picture images, and. a base layer' 3|)" which carries a photosensitive layer13'2 of 'suf'ricientlength to receive aplurality of latent picture images. The layers 28, 30', and '32 are preferably formed from the same materials as layers Ill, I2, and M of Figs. 1 and 3'. 'There interposed between-thephotosensitive layer '32- and theimage-carryinglayer 28, and attached qessinggphotosensitive layer l2.

been used commercially. 7 known waysin which a. diazonium salt layer may able adhesive, a plurality of the liquid-carrying containers I8, each'of 'Whi'chis located between 'two time crush-resistantelements 24 which areattachedflby meanso'f a suitable adhesive to the marginal portions of the image-carrying layer 28-.

to the image carrying layer fby means "of a suit-- It will be apparent that when the crush-resistant element 24 is employed in a; composite photo'- graphic film the rolls of the pr ss n wrins 'r 'must be narrow enough to-pass between -the two "elements 24 toinsure that a'compressive force will-be applied to containerl8 "and that all of'the contained liquid will bejspreadevenly between the image-carrying layerfi "and the photosensitive layer; f In? an of the modifications of the invention discussed above, I the 'liquid carr'ying' container I 8 and the means tofresist crushing have been shown as attached to or formedfrom'the' image carrying layer of-the composite film. It will be appreciated that the liquid-carrying containeran'd the means to resist crushing can 'be attached toithe photosensitive layer, or that the means to resist crushing can be attached to or formed from one 'layer'and the container attached to the other layer-.

.wrI-tfwill also be appreciated that stacks or rolls can bezmade up which-comprise only; for example,

'theimage-carrying layers having attached thereto or formed .therein liquid-carrying containers and the means .to resist crushing, or the stack or 'roll mayicompriseonly'the base layer'and photofsensitive. layer plus the containers and crushresistant means. Such a 'i-oll or stack wouldbe used ina camera. in. which the missing layer would be supplied from asecondstack or roll afteran exposure has been-made: and before the film passes. through the wringer to be processed.

'Inlthe productsuhereinabove described thereis provided in container I 8 a liquidcapable ofproc- In the preferred form-ofthe products photosensitive layer I2 is a silver halide emulsionor the like and the liquid 'releasedfrom container, I8 cooperates with the emulsionandwith the image-receiving layer 14 to carry-put a transfersprocesss This transfer processin. one preferred form; involves thedevelv gopment of-a latent imagein the emulsion and the removal from thatemulsion of part at least of undeveloped silver-halide as a soluble complex, which soluble complex is transported from the photosensitive layer toiorm the positive print.

,However, it will now be apparent that by so form- .ing the products asto omit therefrom the substance for forming the soluble complex it becomes possible to only develop the silver halide emulsion. It is believed'to be also evident now that developable photosensitive materials other than silver halides may constitute the photosensitive layer-.12 which is processed and that theproduct may carry suitable developing [agents and such other liquid as is necessary toi'render said agents operative to effect the development of the photosensitive layer. r.

Certain diazonium compounds are destroyed by light and photographic processes involving such compounds as their photographic materials have There are several be exposed and developed to produce a relatively stable. image. In each ,of; these' processes the treatment of the photosensitive diazonium layer .may be accomplished by applying thereto containing certain developing reagents. (L.- -;P.

a liquid j lei-e, Photography Theory n Practice," s cond 'editiomfpublished 1937: byLYPitman'iRublish ing Company, page 444,-paragraph '693J i The products of. the 1presentinventionmay-he used conjunction with orfumaywcomprise z-as elements thereof diazonium' photosensitive -:layers .Eor example, in the product of.iF g'-- 1 t by applying. to one sideof a suitable sheet mate rialia sensitizing solution which consists of 20 'grams of chlorostannate of para-dia'zo-di-H butyl-aniline, 0.4 gram of Pontacyl Brilliant Blue 2R, and 1 liter of water; The liquid developing reagent in the container l8 then preferably com"- prises, by weight, 4 parts of 'medium'viscosity sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,- parts? of :water, 5.8 parts of sodium carbonate (monohydrate) and 2.3 parts ;of phloroglucinol; a It is also well known that certain ferric salts of organic: acids, for example the oxalates,;tartrates,

and citrates, are reduced to ferrous salts when :exposed to light. (L. P. Clerc, Photography Thecry: and Practice? second-edition, published 1937 by Pitman Publishing. Company, page 402,-wparagraph 621 et seq.; CrowleyIPatents'Nos,2,093,421; 2113,423, 2,130,070, 2,130,071, 2,137,015.) ;A con-'- siderable number of photographic'processes' depend for their functioning on these photochemical phenomena.- It is known in connection with these iron salts that any reagentthat will differentiate betweenferric and ferrous saltscan be used to develop the barely visible image formed by the photochemical reduction of. the ferric salt into an image whichis very easily visible. Ex-

amples of such developing reagents are potassium ferricyanide, potassium ferrocyanide, L tannins,

gallic acid; B-naphthoquinone-sulphonic acid,

.silver salts, platinum and palladium salts.- 1m

believed to be now apparent to one skilled in the art that thephotoresponsive ferrous salts may. constitute the photosensitive material .ofHthe photosensitive layer 12, and the liquid-in the container I8 may include-or dissolve in its travelto the photosensitive layer any one ofthe .-aforementioned developing reagents f or distinguishing between the ferric and ferrous salts and producving the easily visible imagefrom-the very light image that isoriginally obtainedby the photo- ,exposure of .the iron salts.

.Broadly, the products of thatreant' vaaas may comprise, or may be used with, any photographic, photosensitive material for thepurpose of developing the same. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to materials sensitive to visible radiation butincludes photographic, photosensitive materials sensitiveto such other radiation as X -ray, ultraviolet or infrared. For example, the photosensitive unit of -Fig.;- 6 may have layers 30 and 28 thereof opaque.-;t o

visible and near-visible radiation actinic tolayer 32 so that the same may be handled. inthe-dayv7,0:

light without having the photosensitivelayer thereof photoexposed. Exposure ofythe-photosensitive layer maybe suitably accomplished by .means of X-ray or gamma radiation. There sulting-product is thus particularly suitable; for use in the taking of X-raypictures and'may also,

; similarmnitsu r I ffhef term photographic developing .reag'enti armada I detecting the'pre'sence 'd'f'fnuclear radiation, are

lilisclosed in 'rny copending' application SerialNo. 11835965115186. -.'September :29, 1949', for Radiation Detection EDevic'esz The novel structures herein described may :be suitably adapted foriuse.

as usedsherein :is intended toinclude anyrr'eagent which actsztorender a visible image more visible, as in thepase of the ferric 'salts,'or'an invisible image visible; as in the case .Of the silver halide emulsions; T Thevterm development "is intended to=-.c.overi.-the treatment of any photographic, photosensitive material for. the: purpose of renderingf'an-imageiformedtherein by photoexposure visibleior more visible. Thelphotoexposure may,

of course, bethe result of: exposure toiany -type of radiationzractinic to the photosensitive mate,- zriali; .1 I

Sinte-certainchahges may be madeiin the ia'bDVE products without departing from the scope of the invention lherein' involved, it intended that all matter containe'din the above description orshown in the accompanying drawings shall .be in'terpreted ingsense.

a-whatis claimedis'z- LHA composite photographic unitcompr'ising a -photosensitive layer and an image-carrying layer, aliquid-carrying" container capable 0f, releaising 'the contents thereof on application of mechanical stressthereto between said layers, 'and means between said layers and adjacent said as illustrative and not in a limit chanicall stress thereto between" said layera; and

unit and prevent said container iromiprematurely V releasing said contents, said-means comprisin an element havingv a plurality of transverse ooves therein .attachedto one of said layers and being of sufficient height to contact the other layer; w

.5. A product containing a photographic processingagent and capable of processing aphotographic, photosensitive element, --sai-d product comprising a yrsheet support, an elongated. cone tainer holding a liquid dispersion of a film-form ing colloid, said container being mounted on ons surface of said sheet- :support; longitudinally ex- 'tendingportions o t said container-being uniiormly more ruptura-ble than; other portions oi -the; container and providing-upon rupture a liquid-dispensing-passage extendingalong a substantial length ofithe containen-thatportion of said-con ta'iner farthest from saidi 'surface being a--:pre-

determined "distanced therefrom, the container walls bein'g atleast in part deformable and flcxe ibl'ez for transmitting to the container contents externally applied'pressure of suflicient magnitude to rupture said morenrupturable portions,

' said sheetsupporti providing; a; spreadingarea container'to resist crushing of said photographic unit'and prevent said container from prematurely releasing said contents, said meansfco'mprising projections formed from'the'material of one'of aid layers andbeing ofsflicient height to' con'- tact theoth'erlayer'.

2i A'compo'sit" photographic unit comprising a photosensitive layer' andan image-carrying layer, s liquid-carrying container capable of relea'singthe contents thereof on application of 'niechanical" "stress thereto between "said layers, and-means between said layers and adjacent said "container'to r'es'istcrushin of said photographic unit and prevent saidcontainer from prematurely releasing-said contents, said means" coinprising ridges formed in onbffsaid'layersand being. o'f 'sui iicient' height to "contact the other 'myrr C I t I 3". composite photographicunit comprisinga photosensitive layer and an image-carrying'layer,

a li'gpidf-jcarryingfcontainer capable of releasing thecontentsthereof on application of mechanrear stressth'ereto between said layers, and means between saidla'yers and "adjacent said container *toresistcrushing of said photographic unit and prevent said' container from prematurely releas ingsaifd contents, said means'c'omprising domeshape'd protuberances formed from the material of oneof said'layers and beingof suflicient height "to contact the other'layer.

4. A composite photographic unit comprising "at-photosensitive layer and an image car rying T r, a"I iquidcarrying container capable of re- *leasing thecontents thereof on application of meextending substantially perpendicularly from the long "dimension of 'said'containen'and"at least :as 'wide as the length-oi" said rupturablerliquidadispensingi portion oftlieicontainer onto whichtarea said container contents are spreadable fromzsaid liquid-dispensing portions. --said liquid dispersion providing said area with a nlm ofsaid colloid, the spreading of 'thewontainercontents placing said processing agent in condition for' processing a corresponding area of-a photosensitive element, and meansp'ositioned adjacent the 'endsof said liquid-dispensing passage anda-dapted to prevent said container from prematurely releasing said liquid dispersion, said-means being exterior 'ofsaid container-and positioned so a's'no'tto interfere with release of said liquiddispersion from said passage, said-means comprisingat le'astone element of predetermined compressibility, said element being securedto said surface of saidsheet [support and providing" asurface spaced-from' said surface of said sheet support by "a distance substanti'ally'as great as 'said'predetermined distance. '-"6.-A photographic product'comprising a-"pliP- rality of rupturable' containers, each container holding a liquid having dispersed therein a thickening agent, each container being rupturable upon application of a predetermined pressure thereto, a sheet support upon which said"containers are mounted, said containers being spaced lengthwise of said support, the surface of'said sheet support, upon-which's'aid containers are mounted, having a plurality of liquid-receiving areas, one of said areas being adjacent eachof said.- containers and being greater in area' than the area covered by said container, that portion of each container farthest from said surface'of said sheet support'being a predetermined distance from said surface, the liquidineach container being sufficient in amount to cover the liquidreceiving area adjacent thereto and to provide thereon a continuous film 'of said liquid, said prod uct containing a photographic image-transforming reagent, and aplurali'tyof means exterior of said containers and associated with saidjs'he'et support, one said means being adjacent-each'con tainer and adapted'to prevent said container from prematurely releasing said liquid, each-conacids-49* tive, photographic element equivalent to said liquid-receiving area, the container contents, when spread on said liquid-receiving area, placing said reagent in-condition to effect an image transformation; each said Jmeans being resistant to crushing forces greater than said predetermined pressure, each said means comprising at least an element of predeterminedcompressibilitya'ssociated with said surface, the lastsnarne'd elenient having opposed-surfaces that are spaced apart by a distance at least as great substantially as said predetermined"distancey-said sheet support being inz thetform Qfjjaf roll, said opposed surfaces of said last-named element being in contact with' successive layers'joffjsaid roll.

.The product of claimfij'wherein each said means comprises projections formed from the material of said sheet support.

8. The product of claim 6 wherein each said means comprises dome-shaped protuberances formed from the material of said sheet support.

9. The product of claim 6 wherein each said means comprises an element having a plurality of grooves therein, said grooves extending transversely of said sheet support, said element being attached to said sheet support.

10.A composite photographic unit comprising a first layer and a second layer, said layers being adapted to be juxtaposed so that a surface of said first layer and a surface of said second layer are in superposition, one of said surfaces being photosensitive, a container associated with said surface of said first layer, said container carrye 1 18 a liquid for processing said photosensitive surface and being capable of releasing said liquid upon application of mechanical stress thereto,

that portion of said container farthest from said surface of said first layer being substantially a predetermined distance from said surface of said first layer, and means normally preventing application of mechanical stress to said container, said means comprising at least an element of predetermined compressibility associated with one of said layers, said element providing a portion that is adapted to abut against the other of said layers, the last-named portion being spaced from said one layer by a distance at least substantially as great as said predetermined distance.

11. A composite photographic unit comprising a first layer and a second layer, said layers being adapted to-be juxtaposed so that a surface of said first layer and a surface of said second layer are in superposition, said layers comprising at least a photosensitive area, a container secured to said surface of said first layer, said container carrying a liquid for processing said photosensitive area and being capable of releasing said liquid upon application of mechanical stress thereto that portion of said container farthest from said surface of said first layer being substantially a predetermined distance from said surface of said first layer, and means normally preventing application of mechanical stress to said container, said means comprising at least two elements of predetermined compressibility, each of said elements being secured to one of said surfaces and providing a portion that is in abutment with the other of said surfaces, said elements being closely adjacent to said container on opposite sides thereof, the last-named portion being spaced from '15- it? a 4 said one surface by -a -"distancesubsta l'Lv great-as said predetermined 'distan'ee.- 12. A' composite photographic-unit comprising a layer provided with first s'uri-atic hav predetermined area thereof: 'adapted {to receive a" photographic image'fa container attached to said' first surface adjacent said area, 'said contairfer. carrying a liquid, said container being adapted to" confine said liquid notwithstanding application of 1 a predetemined mechanicalstress thereto" and being adaptedtorelease jsaid liquid for spreading across said .area upon application' of more than said predetermined-mechanical stress thereto, that 1 portionof 1 said --'cont'ainer-' farthest from said first surface; when said predetermined mechanical stress is being applied'to said -con' tainer, being a predetermined distance from-said first "surface,- and means normally preventi'ng an plication of 'pressureto said container; sai means comprising at least an elenient; of predetermined compressibility associated with said first surface, said element providing a second surface contacting said layer and a third surface spaced from said first surface by a distance at least substantially as great as said predetermined distance.

13. A composite photographic unit comprising a layer provided with a first'surface having a predetermined area thereof composed of a photosensitive silver halide, a container associated with said first surface adjacent said area, said container carrying a liquid reagent including a developer for silver halide, said container being adapted to confine said liquid reagent notwithstanding application of a predetermined mechanical stress thereto and being adapted to release said liquid reagent for spreading across said area upon the application of more than said predetermined mechanical stress thereto, that portion of said container farthest from said first surface, when said predetermined mechanical stress is applied to said container, being a predetermined distance from said first surface and means normally preventing application of pressure to said container, said means comprising at least an element of predetermined compressibility associated with said first surface, said element providing a second surface contacting said layer and a third surface spaced from said second surface by a distance substantially equal to said predetermined distance.

14. A composite photographic unit comprising a first layer and a second layer, said layers being adapted to be juxtaposed so that a surface of said first layer and a surface of said second layer are in superposition, said layers comprising at least a photosensitive area, a container secured to said surface of said first layer, said container carrying a liquid for processing said photosensitive area and being capable of releasing said liquid upon application of mechanical stress thereto, that portion of said container farthest from said surface of said first layer being substantially a predetermined distance from said surface of said first layer, and means normally preventing application of mechanical stress to said container, said means comprising at least one element of predetermined compressibility, said element being secured to one of said surfaces and providing a portion that is adapted to abut against the other of said surfaces, said element being closely spaced from said container, the last-named portion being spaced from said one surface by a distance that is substantially as great as said predetermined distance.

15. The photographic unit of claim 14 wherein its 'photosensit the pmtofiemittmazzeminqludesestlverzhelide as? 211- The pnotographimunimoic1aim,:14 whereinhe; photosensi iye-=erea inc1udes;, a diazonium. qomnoumlc as; itosbphotosensiltive material" and: wherelmthere s qontainedm ndevelopenfomsaid 20- 3 1,

photosensitive lmaterja; Whiehu is rendeneg vezwo deve1 p evphptesen tivevere P 95: release; of, the; contents of thei -liquideear mg; container; between the adjacentgsuz faoesHots v d; layerse j 3 k E ENC I E f l The. following references: are of" recordtirnthe: file ofthis-padtentp r. V I LIMITED:S'IL4 YIIE IS'LEYATEflf ITS5" N m Name? Pete; 1 2,211,498 Files {Aug, 13,-..1943 2,347,640 Peters, -4 M y-2 1944 2,543,181 Land Feb, .27, 1951,

FOREIGN PATENTS i Number Date p 

10. A COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT COMPRISING A FIRST LAYER AND A SECOND LAYER, SAID LAYERS BEING ADAPTED TO BE JUXTAPOSED SO THAT A SURFACE OF SAID FIRST LAYER AND A SURFACE OF SAID SECOND LAYER ARE IN SUPERPOSITION, ONE OF SAID SURFACES BEING PHOTOSENSITIVE, A CONTAINER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SURFACE OF SAID FIRST LAYER, SAID CONTAINER CARRYING A LIQUID FOR PROCESSING SAID PHOTOSENSITIVE SURFACE AND BEING CAPABLE OF RELEASING SAID LIQUID UPON APPLICATION OF MECHANICAL STRESS THERETO, THAT PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER FARTHEST FROM SAID SURFACE OF SAID FIRST LAYER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID SURFACE OF SAID FIRST LAYER, AND MEANS NORMALLY PREVENTING APPLICATION OF MECHANICAL STRESS TO SAID CONTAINER, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST AN ELEMENT OF PREDE- 